Ngoni’s confer award of bravery on Malawi President Banda

President of Malawi – Joyce Banda

Lilongwe – Malawi’s Maseko tribal Ngoni descendants have conferred President Joyce Banda with an award of bravery in recognition to her valor in turning around the country’s flagging economy and political governance since she ascended to become Malawi’s first woman president and Africa’s second in April following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika. Bestowing the award, Rosemary Malinki, a three time regent to the Gomani chieftainship, said Banda’s courage in the face of the country’s social, economic and political challenges reminded the offshoot of the South African Zululand Nguni of the bravery of the Ngoni Queen Mother Namulangeni, who was executed in 1898 by the Portuguese colonialists for her stand against the occupation and partition of Malawi, then Nyasaland, between the British and the Portuguese. The award was conferred during the coronation of 16 year old Mswati Willard Gomani as Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani V Sunday at the Ngoni Maseko Headquarters in Malawi’s central region Ntcheu district. Mswati takes over the Maseko Ngoni leadership following the death of his father in 2009. According Impi (Protector of the King) Professor Timpuza Mvula,

Malinki, sister to the late Inkosi Gomani IV acted as Paramount Chief Gomani after the death of his brother in 2009 when Mswati was only 13 years old. Malinki also acted when her father Inkosi Gomani III appointed her regent after he was incapacitated in 2006. When Goman III died his brother, the heir, Gomani IV who was Mswati’s father could not immediately ascend to the throne because of his work as a senior military officer in the Malawi Defence Force. President Banda wearing Ngoni ceremonial outfit pledged to support the chieftaincy. She warned family members and other chiefs against taking advantage of the young chief’s age. “At your age, I implore you to be a role model to your fellow youths,” Banda advised the young chief who is doing his education at the prestigious Kamuzu Academy branded the “Eton of Africa”. The young Ngoni chief intends to become a lawyer after completion of academic pursuit.